Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-11-16
FROM THE INDIAN COUNTRY. 3s i
An Interesting Letter from the Crow
H.. :. Battlefield -~5&

,. The cloud. which has for so many
weeks been hanging over the settlers Of
the Yellowstone Valley, burst on the 9Th
of November, and visits them in the
shape of battle between the hostile
Grows and the troops guarding the Crow
Agency. ,~ r.t r. Il
The first threatening movement oc-
CURED on the Saturday proceeding the
day of the battle, when Sword Bearer,
with about twenty of his followers, made
a charge upon company of infantry
guarding the south side, and had it not
been for the timely arrival of a company
of cavalry, sent from Fort Custer, the
whole of Company 4 would haye been
massacred. r..
Gen. Armstrong. Inspector of Indian
affairs, Immediately ordered telegrams to
be sent to all the towns on the Grow res
ervatiou, and demand the presence of all
the Grows at the agency before NoY. Z.
This order was carried into execution,
and on Friday, the 5th, all but one band
had arrived at the agency. pitched their
tepees and reported, in all there being
about 300 tepees and nearly 2, 900 Indians
All night Friday night could be heard
the beating of their tom-toms, their war
songs and the bowling of their dogs.
Early Saturday morning there was a
general move among the tents, the wo-
men, children and old men moving their
tepees up toward the agency, and the
young braves moving about half mile
in the opposite direction, and exactly opz
posite the place where the cavalry COM
panies were stationed.
During the morning Sword Bearer sent
word to all the people that he was going
to fight the whole company of soldiers,
Numbering about 1900 single handed.
He would first ride up and with wave
of his magic sword. smitc all the Indians
who wouldn't follow him, then waving
it again would kill those at the agency,
and then fight the soldiers. Several of
his immediate followers were interviewed
during the morning and Pretty Eagle the
spokesman for them, said: II do not
wish to fight and shall not, but will sit in
my tepee all day and hang my head, wait
ing for the news to come to me. But il
he kills you all, do not blame u.s." Then
pointing to side hill in which the women
and children had been at work digging
rifle pits all night, he continued, ''These
are for the protection of our wives and
children when the soldiers fire, and for q
great storm which is to visit US, predicted
by our leader" -
About half-past ten Generals Dudley
and Ruger, in charge of the companies,
sent message to the Indians, demanding
the presence of their leaders in council
of war. Some answered the order, name
]y, Pretty Eagle, Two Whistle. Lakes
Wrinkle, Carries his Ford, Deaf Bull.
Spotted Horse, and Crazy Head. Gen.
Armstrong addressed them first; he said:
eve want all the young men in your
tribe, who have helped this matter along,
to be brought TO US, we must have them,
and If you will give them up we will not
hurt them, but if you do not, we will
take them dead or alive" Pretty Eagle
then said, "We can give up Sword
Bearer, but none Of the rest" General
Ruger then said, II will give you until
the sun IS there, (pointing to the zenfth)
to bring them to me-" Pretty Eagle then
said, Il will 60 and talk with Sword
Bearer and see." ~. .z
The Indians then returned to their
camp and the Generals watched their
movements with the aid of field glassas,
and at half-past twelve, about one hnn.
dred and fifty of the Grows mounted md
formed in line of battle. General Dud-
lev then gave the order, boots and
saddles" and then waited further move
ments on the part of the Indians.
First, two young warriors, one of them